Cross connecting board



Oct. 7, 1952 E. F. GEIGER CROSS CONNECTING BOARD Filed Oct. 2'?, 1948mvEN-roR Evy/ my ATTORNEYS 1, Whiehinsulating sheet'- or member Hi uponyitsv Patented ct. 7, 1,9521

UNITED onossl CONNECT-ina 130A-RD acorporation of levl 1yinvention.relates to a vcross;-ariannecting` boardto be usd incontroiling signal systems and the like. A .1 i A general object of thisinvention is to provide an improyed cross-connecting board hating 5simple and improved construction; l

(n. particularobjctmof this invention qis to provide a cross-connectingboard that Nsha-11 haye particular ease of manufacture u and assembiy,and with provisionrnade whereby the metallic strips constitutingelectrical eleirientsA of the ci?oss-corineeti-ng lboaro'lstructure, maybe arf ranged in fixed intertting positions with respectl to theirsupporting insulating sheets` or members and with saidn stripslrestrained from lateral movements iii-'their interltting position;thereby, facilitatingiproper and-speedy assembly of the several elementsof said cross-connecting boa-rd Without the use` of conventionalfastening means;

thev dra-Wings:

Y Figure 1 isi-a View of thee-ross'-connectingboard` exploded,AandshoWi-ng the method'of assembling?,`v andy f Figure 2 is a vcrosssectional sideview (1f-the orpss-jconneoting board in its assembledrelationof parts; Y f

AThe cross-connecting board comprises a sheet of insulating i-nateria/lVIvi)Y constituting a baseplatei and having the genera-1 sha-peillustrated inA Fig.

topsurfaco islprovidedwith a plurality of spaced shallow recesses Ii.;eachV recess7 so shapedas'xto receiveand support with a@ neat fit-Ya'Emetallic 'strip I3` andy with the upper `faceof eacli stripk flush-`with the top'surfaees of the depressed por# if tion32 ofsaidlinsulatingsheetv i0. These metal;` licstrip's I-31at one-end thereof'are'prbvided1with bent down end portions I'4-v whichN end portions, in; the assembledpositions ofthe stripsV I'S'f'tritlfri-n'r tri stata openings is, ao

f- 23 are a recesses 23 are formed oppositeveeso the scdnd isst-listing'siiei financi' iii lij wat the' grooves 23, eachy recess" adapted toreceive' the 'J 'iig' pegatinas;

24 in the sheet 22, and furthermore these registering perforationscoincide with the slitted openings in the metallic strips i3 and theirassociated circular recesses or cavities I2 in the insulating sheet I6,the purpose intended being to have the perforations of each metallicstrip 25 equally spaced apart and with each perforation in each vstripin vertical alignment with aparticulai' slitted opening I6 located in aparticular metallic strip I3, and this with the ultimate end in View ofbeing able to electrically connect any one of the metallic strips 25with any one of the metallic strips I3, at the intersection pointsbetween said strips, the electrical connection being made by means of ascrew plug 29 placed at the discretion of the person operating thecrossconnecting board. This screw plug in use and after passing throughaligned perforations in the metallic strip 25 and the insulation sheet22,

makes contact by means of its screw end with an aligned slitted openingof .a particular metallic strip I3 selected.

p A third sheet of insulating material 2l' serves as a cover plate, andformed therein is a series of enlarged perforations 28, each perforationpositioned to coincide with a particular set of aligned perforations 26and 24, slitted opening IS, and circular recess or cavity I2. Thisinsulating cover` sheet or plate has ush engagement with the top face ofthe metallic strips 25 and also the top surfaces of the insulated sheetsI and 22, the several insulating sheets, when in assembled position,adapted to be bolted together by means of four bolts 33. It is alsoto benoted that at opposite sides of this cover sheet 2l, depending flanges21 are provided for covering the end spaces formed by the depressedportion 32 of the insulating strip IU, thereby assuring a completelycovered cross-connecting board in its assembled relation `of parts.

The insulating sheet I0, at one side thereof, is also provided with'aseries of holes Il cut through the sheet, each hole being in line withone of the shallow recesses II as formed in said sheet iii, the numberof said holes being equal to the number of shallow recesses employed. Inthisv Furthermore, a metal strip 3I running the full width of thecross-connecting board, is bolted to the underside of sheet I0, andserves as a common contact element for contact straps I9.

Also a paper tab holder 30 is riveted to the top face of cover sheet 21at the position shown in the drawings, and this for labeling purposes.

It will be manifest from the drawing and the description of parts so farreferred to, that the elements of this device are of simple construc-vtion, and that said elements are assembled merely by fitting one toanother, the use of bolts or other fastening meansV being employed onlyin the final assembly operation, it being further noted that the twosets of metallic strips are especially designed to have interttingrelation with their insulating supporting sheets or plates as outlinedherein.

The principles of operation of this device are not new but compare tothe operation of any conventional cross-connecting board. In thisconnection the contact straps I9 are electrically connected to a seriesof signal devices or buzzers, and the strips 25 are electricallyconnected to a suitable program device. When the operator invserts ascrew plug 29 in any one of the holes 28 of sheet 21, an electricalconnection is made between one of the strips 25 and one of the stripsI3, so that when an impulse is emitted from the program device it willbe directed t0 the signal device or buzzer through this particular strip25, connecting screw plug 29, the particular strip i3, and the contactstrap I9 having electrical contact with the strip I3 just referred to,it being understood that each of the strips I3 are normally inelectrical contact with a separate and distinct contact strap I9.Consequently a plurality of bells or buzzers placed in a building suchas a school may be automatically caused to ring at a specified time ofday by inserting the connecting screw plugs into predetermined desiredpositions on the board, and this in accordance with the impulses emittedfrom the program device.

rlhe bells or buzzers may be manually caused to ring at any time bypushing down on the push buttons I3, thereby making contact betweencommon strip 3l and any one of thecontact straps I9, said common strip3| being electrically connected to a suitable source of power.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cross connecting board comprising in combination as a unitarydevice a multi-part insulating structure rigidly connected together andincluding a base plate of insulating material, a series of detachableelectrical conducting strips arranged upon said base plate in insulatedrelation one with respect to the other, each of said strips having oneend thereof projecting through the base plate and depending therefrom toa predetermined position, a second series of detachable electricalconducting strips also arranged within said structure in crossedrelation to the first mentioned series of strips and insulated therefromand also each other, each of said'second mentioned strips having bothends thereof projecting from the insulating structure and adapted forelectrical connection toa program device, a series of spring metalelectrical contact straps fastened to the base plate and extending in adirection toward and beyond the depending ends of the first mentionedstrips, each contact strap of said series being positioned to liedirectly beneath a depending end of a` strip of said rst mentionedseries of strips and' with each of the straps biased in a direction tonormally make contact with the depending endof its cooperating strip,means for electrically? connecting each of the contact straps to asignal device or buzzer, and individual plug means in section betweensaid strips, whereby upon opera.

tion of the program device certain signal devices will be operatedaccording tothe electrical connections made.

2. A cross connecting board comprising in combnation as a unitary devicean `insulating struc-'f 55 yture including" afibase @plates atseriesof:electrical sconductingifs'tripmarranged withinasaid: structure,in:insulated-:relation;one with respectxte the other; `each of'y saidstripsfghavingicne end `thereof projecting throughtheibaseuplate andidepending therefrom 1.to a: predcterminedposition; a second yseriesaofvelectrical conducting' strips alsok ar- `ranged within said.structureincrossed relation vto. the first-mentioned series of stripsandi insulated therefrom .and-alsoeach other, each of saidsecondimentioned strips :having .both ends thereof :projecting lffromAthe .l insulating ,structure and .adapted for electrical .connection:to .a program device; :a series ofi spring Imetal electrical contactstraps fiastenedlto the base :plateand extendingfin acdirectionl towardkand beyondthe depending cndsz-otlthe firstxmentionedstripsgi eachcontact strap of said series being positioned to lie directly.beneathia.depending4 end of a strip of said first mentioned series ofstrips and with all ofthe straps biased Ain ay directionto` normallymakeL contact withy the dependingend of its cooperating strip, means forelectricallyffconnecting each of the contact .straps to a sgnaldeviceorbuzzer, plug means'for electrically connecting any one of the firstmentioned seriesofstrips with any one ofthe second mentioned series ofstrips at-'the pbintsof'intersecti-on between said strips,wherebyupon.operation of the pro-gram device certain signal devices-willbe operated according to the electrical'connection made; and manuallyoperated means-permanently carried by the insulating 'structure andadapted for moving any one of thel contact straps to break electricalcircuit betvveen'said strap-and the depending end of-*its cooperatingstrip.

3. A cross connecting board comprising in combination as a unitarydevice an insulating structure including a base plate, a series ofelectrical conducting strips arranged within said structure in insulatedrelation one with respect to the other, each of said strips having oneend thereof projecting throgh the base plate and dep-ending therefrom toa predetermined position, a second series of electri-cal conductingstrips also arranged within said structure in crossed relation to thefirst mentioned serie-s of strips and insulated therefrom and also eachother, each of said second mentioned strips having both ends thereofprojecting from the insulating structure and f adapted for electricalconnection to a program device, a series of spring metal electricalcontact straps fastened to the underside of the base plate and extendingin a direction toward and beyond the depending ends of thel rstmentioned strips, each contact strap of sia-id series being positionedto lie directly beneath a depending end of a stri-p of said firstmentionedseries of strips, with said straps biased in a directiontonormally make Contact with the depending end of its cooperating strip,means for electrically connecting each of the contact straps to a signaldevice or buzzer, means for electrically connecting any one of the firstmentioned series of strips with any one o-f the second vmentioned seriesof strips at the `points of intersection between said strips wherebyupon operation of the program device certain signal devices will beoperated according to the electrical connections made, a power strip`supported upon said base plate and in cooperative relation with each ofthe contact straps, and a series of selectively operated devices carriedby and projecting through the base plate, each engaging a contact strapand when operated adapted to break electrical contact between saidconone of the signaldevicesmay beoperated-atthe will of. the operatorand regardlessrof stheelectrical connections madegin .theautomaticlsetaup including the program device.

- LA- cross-connectingboard comprisingin ycombination-.an insulatingfbase plater aseries; of 1detachable metallicstripsihavin'ginterttingfprelaftionship upon said ybaseplatezandimaintained,out of contact. one withgthe. other; each,l striphaving any end' thereofzprojeoting through the .base/:plate to depen-dtherefrom: :toca: predetermined; position lbeneath ,the base plate, a.second; insulating: pl-ate havingpa ,face thereof in flusha engagement:with the base plate and its series vof. rinterfittingstrips,

.a second series-of detachable metallcstrips having .interfittingrrelationship r upon the v:opposite face of, saidA secondinsulatinggplateso ,as .toenamltain them out'of contactonexwithzthevotherand in crossed relation .to .thoseogfgthe first.mentioned Strips; an.` insulating-.gouver platehaving-a face thereof inflush engagement with the second insulating-plate and its interflttingstrips, v.said cover :plate having axseries; of perf-orationslcorresponding with aligned. perforations :formed in said second seriesVof metallic stripsaand7 the second insulating plate .atr the` points,of int'ersection between thel two A:sets of .strips, meansyforsiholdingl all three insulatingplatesfinfxed assembled relation, onewith the: other, plugzmeansginsertable `at Will within any Aof.zthe-alignedz perforations Ifor electrically connecting f any .one ofzthe rst mentioned series of strips with any one of the second mentionedseries of strips at the points of intersection between said strips andfor the purposes intended, and a series of spring metal straps fastenedto the under side of the b'a-se plate and extending in a. directiontoward and beyond the depending ends of the rst mentioned series.

of strips and with one of the extended ends of each strap beneath eachof said rst mentioned strips, each strap being lbiased in a directiontoward the lower depending edge of its cooperating metallic strip tomake electric contact between said elements, and each of said strapssomounted on the base plate as to be capable of movement away from saiddepending ends of said strips to break electrical contact between saidelements when required.

5. A cross connecting board comprising in combination as a unitarydevice an insulating structure including a base plate, a series ofelectrical conducting strips arranged within said structure ininsulating relation one with respect to the other, each of said stripshaving one end thereof projecting through the base plate and dependingtherefrom to a predetermined position, a second series of electricalconducting strips also arranged Within said structure in crossedrelation to the first mentioned series of strips and insulated therefromand also each other, each of said second mentioned strips adapted fol`electrical connection to a program device, a series of spring metalelectrical straps fastened to the base plate and extending in adirection toward and beyond the depending ends of the first mentionedstrips, each cont-act strap of said series of straps being positioned tolie directly beneath a depending end of a strip of said first mentionedseries of strips and with each of said straps biased in a direction tonormally make contact with the depending end of its cooperating strip,means for electrically connecting each of the contact straps to a signaldevice or buzzer, means for electrically connecting any one of the rs'tmentioned series of strips with V-any one of the second mentioned seriesof strips at the points of intersection between said strips whereby uponoperation of the program device certain signal devices will be operatedaccording to the electrical connections made, and a series ofselectively operated push devices loosely carried by and projectingthrough the insulating structure, each push operated device supportedupon and held in place upon the insulating structure by one of thespring biased straps, said push devices when operated serving to breakelectrical contact lbetween any particular strap and the depending endof its cooperating strip for the purposes intended andas required.

6. A cross connecting board comprising in combination as a unitarydevice an insulating structure including a base plate, a series ofdetachable metallic strips having intertting relationship upon said baseplate and maintained out of contact one with the other, each of saidstrips adapted for electrical connection to a signal device or buzzer, asecond insulating plate having a face thereof in flush engagement withthe base Iplate and its series of intertting strips, a second series ofdetachable metallic strips having intertting relationship upon theeopposite face of said second insulating plate so `as to maintain themout of contact one with the other and in crossed relation to those ofthe rst mentioned strips, each of said second mentioned strips adaptedfor electrical connection to a. program device, an inn8 sulating coverplate having `a a'ce thereof in ilush engagement with the secondinsulating'plate and its interfitting strips, said cover plate havingva. series of perforations formed therein corresponding with-aligned-perforations formed in theisecond mentioned metallic strips andthe second insulating plate at the points of intersection between thetwo sets of strips, means for holding all three insulating plates in yarigid assembled relation, and plug means insertable at will Within anyof the aligned perforations for electrically connecting any one of theiirst mentioned series 4of strips with any one of the second mentionedseries of -strips at the points of intersection -between said strips,whereby upon operation of the program device certain signal devices willbe operated according to Ithe electrical connections made.

EDWARD F. GEIGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,395 Odell Jan. 17, 18821,199,843 Washburn Oct. 3, 1916 1,718,993 Wermine July 2, 1929 1,954,305Williams Apr. 10, 1934 2,019,625 OBrien Nov. 5, 1935 2,195,343 SayreMar. 26, 1940 2,437,018 Dodson Mar. 2, 1948 2,467,727 Brown Apr. 19,194,9 2,483,551- Libman Oct. 4, 1949

